The school I taught at in NJ recently asked me to write a short New Year’s-themed devotional for their school newspaper. I wrote about the difference between making resolutions and living like Paul, according to Philippians 3. Since it was geared toward Jr. & Sr. Highers, I thought I’d share it here as well.
This is another post for my personal blog and something I’ve been brooding about for a while now. I encourage all Christian young people who have a Facebook account (or want one) to read it and to examine what they post and why they post it. It would probably be good for parents to read it as well in order to hold them accountable.
This is a post I wrote on my personal blog about the emphasis that we place on sports, especially at the high school and college level. I used to have frequent conversations on this topic with several people in NJ, and the brawl at the end of the Cincinnati-Xavier college basketball game on Saturday served as the impetus for me to put some of my thoughts in writing. I decided to post a link to it here in case the topic interested anyone.
the video we showed at youth group last night … a powerful presentation by Folk Angel reminding us of what Christmas is really about
Intergenerational connections and parental involvement give kids a faith that lasts beyond high school.
I’m afraid that in our effort to offer relevant and age-appropriate teaching and fellowship for teenagers, we have segregated students from the rest of the church. According to our research, that segregation is causing students to shelve their faith. But there’s also good news. Getting rid of the two-table system, and placing teens in intergenerational contexts of worship, ministry, and life, helps their faith thrive—in high school and beyond.
“It is my belief that even when wonderful, family-based discipleship and evangelism are happening in the context of the local church, there is still an important place and purpose for a youth ministry program. A church-based youth ministry—done well—can and should contribute to fulfilling the church’s goal to train up and send out life-long followers of Jesus Christ and servants of his church.”
“there is a primary sphere where evangelism and discipleship of young people must occur. It is the context of the family, the Christian home. Christian parents—not youth pastors—have the primary role, responsibility, and calling to evangelize and disciple their children.”
“The daunting statistics about churchgoing youth keep rolling in. Panic ensues. What are we doing wrong in our churches? In our youth ministries? … What is it that sets apart the kids who stay in the church? Here are just a few observations I have made about such kids, with a few applications for those of us serving in youth ministry.”
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